Reproductive Rights

Reproductive Rights

Texas has become a laboratory for bad ideas when it comes to reproductive rights. In recent years state lawmakers have passed some of the toughest anti-abortion measures in the country, essentially making the procedure almost inaccessible for many Texas women.

The Texas Freedom Network supports efforts to ensure women have access to abortion and other reproductive health care services. That access requires adequate state funding and broad availability of birth control, especially for low-income women.

Are Texas public school students going to learn that using contraception is as "unnatural" as underwater, tap-dancing squirrels? The state sure seems to be inviting that kind of nonsense into its Abstinence Education Program. Read More

Common tactics within the anti-abortion movement include plenty of fear mongering and promoting of bunk science. If you can even call it science.

Take, for example, Carol Everett of the anti-abortion organization The Heidi Group. Everett was on Fox 7 Austin this week defending a move by Texas officials, with the support of Gov. Greg Abbott, to require abortion providers to cremate or bury fetal remains. The proposed rule is yet another unnecessary regulation promoted by politicians who want to shame women who seek an abortion and make the procedure more burdensome and expensive for providers.

Now Everett is absurdly suggesting that Texans risk contracting HIV or another sexually transmitted infection from their drinking water if the rule isn’t implemented:

It’s a theme. Here’s Everett, a couple of years ago, discussing other unnecessary regulations targeted at abortion care providers. She says that without the rules, it could be EBOLA! for everyone.

There will be a public hearing on Thursday, Aug. 4, on the proposed fetal remains burial and cremation rule. The Center for Reproductive Rights, which represented Whole Woman’s Health in its successful challenge of the Texas anti-abortion law struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier… Read More

Triumphant Boasts about Increasing Budgets and Providers Belie the Facts

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 1, 2016

AUSTIN – Today the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund, as part of its Texas: State of Denial campaign (StateOfDenialTX.org), delivered almost 7,000 letters from Texans to Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, calling on her to stop playing politics and face the facts about the harm politicians have done to women’s health care.

The delivery comes as Nelson begins a media blitz announcing yet another update to the state’s struggling Women’s Health Program. The state has operated the program since 2013, following the Legislature’s decision to decline federal funding in order to bar Planned Parenthood.

“Senator Nelson obviously recognizes the mess the state has made of women’s health care – that’s what last week’s PR stunt is all about,” said Kathy Miller, president of the TFN Education Fund. “But the facts are unchanged: thousands of women have been denied access to birth control in Texas because of political decisions by state leaders. And until the state can show that women are getting the health care they need, this is all just smoke and mirrors.”

Advocates for women's reproductive health care are still celebrating Monday's U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down some of the most extreme anti-abortion regulations passed by the Texas Legislature in 2013 (House Bill 2). But we've been monitoring the almost unhinged and even violence-themed fury from the right over the court's clear acknowledgment that those regulations were really intended to close abortion clinics, not protect women's health. Read More

This Victory Doesn’t End the Fight for the Dignity of Women and their Constitutional Right to Make their Own Health Care Decisions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 27, 2016

Texas Freedom Network President Kathy Miller has the following statement on today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down key provisions of Texas’ extreme anti-abortion law:

“This decision is a huge victory for the dignity of women and their constitutional right to make their own health care decisions. But extremists from the Governor’s Office to the state Capitol are already preparing more legislative efforts to deny women their constitutional right to access safe and legal abortion care in Texas. They refused to listen to the experts who said this law was medically unnecessary and to the voices of thousands of women who came to the Capitol three years ago. But the Supreme Court listened to those voices and today honored the constitutional right of women to access abortion care no matter their zip code. This fight continues until our lawmakers trust Texas women and families to make their own decisions about their health care and their future.”

Rep conducted an informal poll of all 254 clerks in Texas. 49 responded, and 47 had NOT removed their names.
That big bill “protecting” religious liberty of county clerks was addressing a problem that doesn’t exist. #txlege

This committee has moved on to religious freedom issues. Interesting report from witness representing county clerks. The issue is marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples, and a bill allowing clerks to remove their names from licenses. #txlege

Creationism is not science.
Creationism is not science.
Creationism is not science.
Creationism is not science.
Creationism is not science.
Creationism is not science.
bit.ly/2EPwDgfpic.twitter.com/DYHB…

Follow TFN on Facebook

Recent Posts

DONATE TO TFN

The Texas Freedom Network fights the powerful influence of the religious right, and every dollar makes a difference in our campaigns.
Make your contribution today and join a grassroots network of more than 130,000 members and supporters.
DONATE TODAY